Volume 4: December 4, 2008 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE DEADLINE DEC. 6

2) FREE LIBRARY 2.0 ONLINE TRAINING EVENT

3) PBS AMERICAN EXPERIENCE PROVIDES LIBRARY OPPORTUNITIES

4) APPLICATIONS FOR THE BIG READ ARE DUE FEB 3

5) QWEST FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR PRE K-12 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

6) WASHINGTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MEETS IN SPOKANE, APRIL 15-18, 2009

7) ACCESSIBILITY TIPSHEETS AVAILABLE

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1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE DEADLINE DEC. 6

Entries for this year’s Letters About Literature contest must be postmarked by December 6, 2008. Mail to Letters About Literature, Competition Level (indicate level 1 2, or 3), PO Box 609, Dallas, PA, 18612.

To read the Letters About Literature Participation Guidelines, please visit the State Library’s website at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/letters.

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2) FREE LIBRARY 2.0 ONLINE TRAINING EVENT

For some, Library 2.0 is new and uncharted territory. For others, it's the same thing we've been doing for years. Find out where the term originated, what it actually means, and how it intertwines with Web 2.0 in this free, online training event sponsored by the Washington State Library.

Scheduled for January 14, 2009, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., the training is free, but registration is required. Register at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/2-oh.

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3) PBS AMERICAN EXPERIENCE PROVIDES LIBRARY OPPORTUNITIES

In April 2009, the largest ever "American Experience" Series will air nationally on PBS stations. Produced by WGBH-Boston, "We Shall Remain" presents selected key events in Native American History. The first episode will air during National Library Week, on Monday, 13 April 2009 with the other four episodes airing on four subsequent Mondays.

A 28 page library event kit for the “We Shall Remain" series is now available as a PDF document at www.pbs.org/weshallremain/libraries. The event kit was written by Dr. Patty Loew of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. The website also features a form for listing your library event in conjunction with the presentations.

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4) APPLICATIONS FOR THE BIG READ ARE DUE FEB 3

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announces the fifth grant cycle for The Big Read. The purpose of The Big Read is to revitalize the role of literature in American popular culture. Grants ranging from $5,000 – $20,000 are available to encourage local communities to inspire reading by developing and carrying out programming revolving around a single work of literature. Programming must be conducted between September 2009 and June 2010.

Applications are due Feb. 3, 2009. This will be the only application deadline in 2009. Big Read grants require the participation of a library as a lead applicant or a partner. Applications/ Request for Proposals can be downloaded at www.NEABigRead.org. Questions should be directed to Arts Midwest at 612-238-8010 or [email protected].

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5) QWEST FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR PRE K-12 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The Qwest Foundation supports nonprofit organizations located in the communities served by the company in several Western states, including Washington. The Foundation's primary initiative, Qwest for Education, focuses on enriching the lives of children by supporting solid preK-12 educational programs. Grants are provided for programs that promote innovative models to strengthen K-12 public school education, effectively use technology, improve skills and leadership of educators and parents, and promote innovative early childhood education programs.

Requests may be submitted at any time, and are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Average grant size has been between $5,000 and $10,000.The application guidelines and forms are available on the Qwest website at www.qwest.com/about/company/community/foundation.html.

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6) WASHINGTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MEETS IN SPOKANE, APRIL 15-18, 2009

The Washington Library Association's 2009 Conference, “Impact & Influence”, is just around the corner, at least you may want to begin your planning. The 2009 conference will be April 15-18 in Spokane, Washington. Special guests and speakers include FOLUSA spokesperson and comedian Paula Poundstone, award-winning author Jane Smiley, and Pasadena Public Library Director Jan Sanders (former Spokane Public Library Director). Watch for registration information in your mailbox in January. Early registration rates accepted until March 4, 2009.

CE grants from WSL are available for attending preconferences that meet one of the six LSTA priorities. For more information, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/CE.

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7) ACCESSIBILITY TIPSHEETS AVAILABLE

A series of fifteen “Library Accessibility –What You Need to Know” tipsheets is available from ASCLA (ALA’s Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies). The toolkit was developed to help librarians in all types of libraries understand and manage access issues. These issues include but are not limited to: patrons who have cognitive, mental, or emotional illnesses; patrons with learning and/or developmental disabilities; patrons with service animals; patrons needing assistive technologies and patrons with physical disabilities. Each tipsheet addresses a specific concern.

The tipsheets are available via this link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/tips.